What is the elapsed time for RF energy to correspond to one nautical mile?

To determine the elapsed time for RF energy to correspond to one nautical mile, it's important to first understand the relationship between distance and the speed of light, as RF (radio frequency) energy travels at the speed of light in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 186,282 miles per second).

One nautical mile is equivalent to approximately 1,852 meters. To find the time it takes for RF energy to travel this distance, the formula to use is:

Time (seconds) = Distance (meters) / Speed (meters per second)

Converting 1 nautical mile into meters gives us 1,852 meters. The speed of light in meters per microsecond, when calculated, is approximately 299.792 meters per microsecond. Now, calculating the time required for RF energy to travel one nautical mile:

Time = 1852 meters / 299.792 meters per microsecond = approximately 6.18 microseconds.

Thus, the elapsed time for RF energy to correspond to one nautical mile is about 6.18 microseconds, making this the correct answer. This calculation demonstrates the relationship between distance in nautical miles and the speed of RF energy, leading to an accurate time measurement.